Results 1,941-1,960 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Industrial Relations. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: It is very sad. The sooner the union and management reach an agreement, the sooner those pension increases will be paid. These pensioners are the unfortunate losers. I again urge both sides to work together on foot of the report they will receive this afternoon to resolve the issue for the benefit of An Post pensioners, workers and consumers.

Industrial Relations. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I have met members of the union executive some half a dozen times in the last year. During that time, I have also met the company management on a number of occasions. I do not wish to go through the entire industrial relations machinery of the State which has been employed in this matter. I know Deputies opposite must say something on this issue. However, discussions were ongoing in the LRC,...

Industrial Relations. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: ——as wages are increased in the public service.

Industrial Relations. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: That is a separate issue.

Industrial Relations. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The principle of parity between pay and pensions is extremely important to pensioners as it is a protection for them that the link is not broken. Despite efforts that were made——

Industrial Relations. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: ——it was believed it should not be broken. That was in the best interest of workers and pensioners.

Industrial Relations. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I would love to pay An Post pensioners at the moment. A variety of different figures exist on the financial costs of resolving this dispute. It is not just a question of cost but of savings by changing archaic work practices. Various figures have been bandied around ranging from €10 million to €20 million to €32 million. It is not an exact science.

Industrial Relations. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The important issue is the changing of work practices to ensure the company's future viability. If Deputy Durkan is insinuating that I was behind the release of information on the salaries of the ten top-earning postal workers which appeared in newspapers——

Industrial Relations. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: ——he is wrong. I have no idea what the top-earning or low-earning postal workers are being paid.

Industrial Relations. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I suggest the Deputy takes the matter up with the newspapers and asks them for their sources.

Industrial Relations. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I would have answered the question if I was not interrupted.

Industrial Relations. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy's behaviour is disgraceful.

Prospecting Licences. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Details of current licences, including those recently awarded, are contained in two reports published by my Department. The first of these is the six monthly report on licensing presented to the Dáil under section 57 of the Petroleum and other Minerals Development Act 1960. The second is the acreage report, which is published on the Department's website approximately three times each year....

Prospecting Licences. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: No, just No. 90.

Prospecting Licences. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: We can talk about all the fairytales we like but there is no point in being "Alice in Wonderland" on this matter. We can barely give the licences away at present, of which the Deputy should be well aware.

Prospecting Licences. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Were I in this House at Estimates time with a different licensing regime or a State exploration company looking for €100 million to drill five wells where we had a hit rate of one in 30 over the past 30 years, I could imagine what the Opposition would say. We would be hearing from Deputy Cowley——

Prospecting Licences. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: ——again and hearing about the hospitals and the ambulances. He would remind us it was a waste of money with no return for it and no likelihood of any return. The Deputy cannot have it both ways. Since 1971 we have had 121 exploration wells. Just four of those wells have been successful: Kinsale in 1971, Ballycotton in 1989, Corrib in 2001 — with which the Deputy will be very familiar...

Prospecting Licences. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I can imagine what he would be saying to me on that matter if the Government was spending its money in that way.

Prospecting Licences. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I did not hear a question yet.

Prospecting Licences. (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Deputy Cowley made a statement rather than asking a question about me being real about this issue.